Maibach Ford Dealer moves into new digs, complete with community room

Wednesday

Oct 6, 2004 at 12:01 AM

By PAUL LOCHERStaff WriterORRVILLE "We want the people of Orrville to be as proud of this building as we are," said Fred Maibach, owner of the new Maibach Ford, as he talked about his dealership located at 1780 N. Main St., about a mile north of the city's downtown.The traditional red brick and stone two-story structure isn't your typical sales showroom.In 25 years in the automotive business, Maibach said he has learned a few things about what customers want. And it is those features he has worked to incorporate into his new facility that opened a little more than a month ago.Maibach said he set out to give the new dealership "a more welcoming, homey and residential feel ... not a commercial one." He said he achieved that not only through the selection of exterior materials, but also through the incorporation of earth tones inside.Maibach said his experience has enabled him to bring an array of innovations to the project that extend beyond the well-lighted showroom. There is an enclosed vehicle delivery area with two bays where sales personnel can go over everything about a new vehicle with the owner in an environment where rain or sun beating down is not a factor."It really provides an opportunity for our people to go over the vehicle with the owner to familiarize them with how everything works. ...," said Tom Hewit, lease manager.Just inside the door from the vehicle delivery area there is a play area for children, as well as seating with Internet access for customers who need to work while they wait.There is a two-story racked parts department, as well as offices for customers and sales personnel, who can enjoy the use of a coffee lounge and kitchenette just off the showroom.The service area offers Fast Freddy's quick lube and tire service area. Customers for car service have what Maibach describes as a service "ride-up area" that allows them to drive their vehicle inside.There is a glassed-in viewing area where customers can watch technicians. The service area, said Hewit, is double that of the dealership's former High Street facility, with 20 well-lighted and lift-equipped service bays, as well as vehicle reconditioning and car washing areas.An unusual feature, Hewit noted, is a 25,000-pound lift that enables the dealership to service large motor homes."Nobody around has anything that big in a car dealership," Maibach said, noting it gives the facility another marketing opportunity. "We can now work on everything from the smallest cars to the biggest trucks."Maibach noted the most important consideration in designing the facility was to place everything in proximity to where it is needed."We didn't want the employees to have to take any unnecessary steps. We wanted everything to be right at hand. And we wanted to relate the parts (department) to the service department," he said.The second floor of the building, Maibach said, is designated as a community room, where groups can hold gatherings in the 10,000 square feet of space. He envisions the room as a setting for sports team banquets, Christmas parties and meetings of community groups."It's an unusual thing for a dealership," Maibach admits, "but we believe it will be an asset for the community."The new dealership is located on a 13-acre site, about half of which is being used, providing a large parking lot for customers and areas to house new and used vehicle inventories."We have more capacity than we have vehicles," Maibach said. "I thought all these things were good and would help us."Reporter Paul Locher can be reached at (330) 682-2055, ext. 218, or at plocher@the-daily-record.com.